Monday, September 11, 2017

Dialogue from the shadows

Dialogue
that focuses on "issues out there" without at the same time exploring
the "shadows in here" are at risk of staying at the level of
intellectual gymnastics. We pride ourselves in being brilliant analysts
and operate like prophets who see and expose all the wrongdoings of
others. Nothing wrong with being a prophet in a skewed society, as long
as we see ourselves as part of the problem. Again, as I've said so many
times, it is much harder to honestly face ourselves and admit to the
parts of ourselves that we criticize in others than to continue fighting
as activists.

Richard Rohr says: "Human consciousness does not emerge at any
depth except through struggling with our shadow. It is in facing our
conflicts, criticisms, and contradictions that we grow. It is in the
struggle with our shadow self, with failure, or with wounding that we
break into higher levels of consciousness. People who learn to expose,
name, and still thrive inside the contradictions are people I would call
prophets."

While nobody in debates is likely to admit to their own debates,
dialogue opens the possibilities for authentic conversations that
traverse the canyons of our own brokenness so that we can all emerge
with illuminated minds and stronger relationships. We are contradictions
living in contradictions.